Gain the Knowledge and Experience to Become a Police K9 Instructor!

Learn to More Effectively Train Police Dogs and their Handlers

Globally, the demand for highly skilled dogs and handlers continues to increase. Many agencies today are moving to train their own dogs and handlers utilizing inter-departmental training programs. For many, this is a major undertaking that requires a great deal of manpower and resources. To ensure that these dog and handler training programs are efficient and successful, instructors and trainers are constantly looking for up-to-date methods of training dogs and handlers to ensure the utmost return on investment. Our Police K9 Instructor / Trainer programs are established to give you all of the tools and skills to train dogs and handlers in the most efficient and productive way possible. The techniques that we use and teach are proven to obtain optimum results in real world situations. Our programs are taught by instructors who are experts in the industry.

We offer a variety of comprehensive working dog trainers courses through our School for Dog Trainers located in North Carolina. Our School for Dog Trainers is the first and only of its kind to be licensed by the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges. Our School for Dog Trainers offers comprehensive, hands-on programs in varying lengths so that students can learn as much as they want.

Our programs are the most innovative and progressive available in the industry today. Our Police K9 Instructor Courses are vastly different than most of those available as our programs are not designed to simply teach you to mimic behaviors taught by an instructor. Our programs give you a solid foundation of knowledge for problem solving that will allow you to train dogs and handlers confidently. Utilizing proven curriculum, we teach you all of the theory and practical, hands-on skills that you need to be an effective police k9 trainer.

Our Police K9 Instructor Course is Taught by Leaders in the Industry

Our most comprehensive working dog course, the Police K9 Instructor Course combines all aspects of both our Protection and Detection Trainer courses, and emphasizes tasks Police K9s and their partners are called to do in the field. Our instructors and training facilities provide real-life scenarios for police K9s, trainers and handlers, so dogs and handlers graduate ready for the street. This program is ideal for current and former police officers, Police K9 Instructors, K9 unit supervisors and handlers, military, as well as for civilians who are interested in training and handling police K9s for this demanding work.

Our Police K9 Instructor Course teaches attendees what they need to know to be effective Police K9 instructors for working dogs of all types. Graduates of our program are confident in their skills, and most importantly, confident in their K9 partner. They learn to trust their police K9 implicitly because they are part of the total learning process and know the training methods taught at Highland Canine Training, LLC are proven to be successful in the field.

Our courses do not take a “cookie cutter” approach to training police and military dogs, as we understand that each dog and handler is different. Therefore, the needs of each team is different and we teach you how to customize training to meet those needs. Our courses teach you a variety of methods for each aspect of training police dogs and handlers. For example, our detection programs teach four different methodologies of training detection dogs, from traditional detection methods to more contemporary methodologies.

Gain all the Skills You Need to Become a K9 Instructor / Trainer

Students who attend our 12-week course receive a concrete foundation in dog behavior, learning theory, training methodologies, training tools, and behavior modification techniques. This foundation allows graduates of our Police K9 Instructor Course to communicate efficiently with their K9 partners, build a solid relationship with their dog, and accurately troubleshoot any training or behavioral issues that the dog may develop throughout its working career. Over time, many handlers and dog teams will encounter problems or issues in the field. Having the ability to effectively diagnose and quickly resolve these problems is an essential skill set for effective Police K9 Instructors.

Shorter advanced courses are designed for those who already possess a solid understanding of canine behavior and training and have considerable experience and a strong background in professional Police K9 training or handling who are looking to polish their skills.

Police K9 Course Curriculum

Our course curriculum is designed to provide each graduate with the knowledge and experience they need to be successful in the industry. We have developed comprehensive course materials that graduates are able to utilize during our programs to confidently understand the information being taught. These books and materials can also be used after the course as a reference.

Canine Case Law Reference

Also included in our Police K9 Instructor Courses is our 300+ page Canine Case Law Reference. This perfect bound book contains tons of valuable information on canine related case law that is covered, in great detail, during the course. It contains up-to-date cases on both detection as well as police K9 patrol related issues. Understanding and being able to apply and teach canine case law is a vital skill for any Police K9 Trainer or Instructor. This book serves as a great reference and training tool even after graduation from the course.

Police K9 Supervisor Training

Often, Police K9 Instructors are also tasked with supervisory roles within their agency. Our Police K9 Instructor Courses also teach aspects of Police K9 supervision and management in addition to the other facets of training dogs and handlers.

This 200+ page manual covers topics such as FLSA issues, K9 risk management, selection and testing of dogs, choosing the right handler, and getting the most from K9 teams.

Customized Police Canine Instructor Programs

Students have traveled from around the globe to learn to be dog trainers through our informative and comprehensive dog trainer programs. Our School for Dog Trainers has hosted students from North and South America, the Caribbean, Africa, Europe, Australia and Asia. We have instructed handlers and trainers from Law Enforcement and Military organizations from the US and around the world. We offer customized programs for Police, Military and Private Security groups, tailored to meet the individual needs of your agency. For more information on group rates and availability, please contact us.

Regardless of your current skill level and experience working with dogs, our Police K9 Instructor Course Programs have something to offer. Our goal is to meet the learning requirements of each individual student, and our courses can be customized to meet those needs.

Housing & Financing Available

We offer fully furnished, on-site housing as well as transportation and airport pick-up for individuals traveling to our school. We also offer simple and easy financing options for those who wish to pay for their canine education over time. Our courses are available to police, military, and civilians who wish to become a Police K9 Instructor. Attendees are allowed and encouraged to bring up to two (2) dogs with them to integrate into their course.

GI Bill & VA Benefits Accepted

Our 12-week Police K9 Instructor Program is approved to accept GI Bill and other VA benefits. If you are eligible and wish to use your VA benefits, our staff will be happy to assist you with the paperwork.